Research: Our research integrates modern biochemical/proteomic, molecular biological, and functional genomic tools to assess the organization and control of plant carbohydrate metabolism and the biochemical and molecular adaptations of phosphorus-starved plants. We are particularly interested in the occurrence, functions, and mechanisms of post-translational protein modification by phosphorylation, monoubiquitination, and glycosylation since these PTMs can play pivotal roles in controlling enzyme activity, subcellular location, and protein:protein interactions in response to various extra- or intracellular signals. Systems that we are studying include developing and germinating oilseeds, and cell cultures and seedlings of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results are integrated with a wide range of information on genomics, the control of gene expression, protein structure-function, metabolomics, and whole plant physiology into a framework that leads to a deeper understanding of how plants work in their natural environment. This research has important agronomic applications including the: (1) targeted modification of storage oil versus protein levels in oilseeds such as canola or soybean, and (2) metabolic engineering of phosphorus-efficient crops, urgently needed to reduce mankind’s rampant but inefficient use of non-renewable, unsustainable, and polluting phosphate-containing fertilizers.